Austin Catlin

Profile Information:

Type of Organization

Military/Federal Response Agency

Job Function

Other

Years in Fire/EMS:

This year will be 8

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Idaho Falls, ID

Years With Department/Agency

8

Dept. Web Site:

http://www.idahofireinfo.blm.gov/east/

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

I work for the Idaho Falls District of the BLM which manages all of Eastern Idaho.

My Training:

ENGB, ENOP, FALA, ICT5, ATVO, FFT1, CRWB(T), FALB(T), ICT4(T)

About Me:

I started fighting fire with the BLM the summer I graduated from high school. I've been doing it every summer since and went Permanent this spring when I graduated from college. I'm currently a station manager and ENGB.

Relationship Status:

In a Relationship

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://myspace.com/atown83

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

Got hooked on the job when I was 18, been living it ever since!

Why I Love Fire/EMS

Being able to visit remote areas and see country I would never see if it wasn't in response to fire.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

On our district we are faced every year with the Sage Grouse issue and how it may limit our options in certain areas as far as suppression is concerned. The other big problem our district is starting to get more heavily involved with is the Urban Interface issue. I see those as our two biggest issues on this district. Across the nation though, I think that it may be the lack of resources; particularly in busy years as we experienced here in Idaho this past season. There was and is continued controversy over the Murphy Fire and the way it was managed and I think we will continue to see heavy criticism from land owners, politicians, and the media when it comes to how we fight fire and why we do it the way we do.

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